Circa Survive and Surviving As A Band

 Photo Credits: Andrew Swartz and Hayley Rippy There's enough troubles with being in a band that any band can easily run into a dead end while trying their hardest. For Circa Survive, trouble with management and addiction meant time away and then figuring out a healthier way to make things

Still at Peace 25 years later – Our Lady Peace, One of Canada’s Most Enduring Bands

 Founded in 1992 by Raine Maida, Our Lady Peace is one of Canada’s most enduring bands. Despite a few line-up changes over the years, the essence of OLP lives on through its lead singer and lyricist. The band kept fans waiting 5 years for new material until Somethingness was released

The Balconies Step Out of the Spotlight

 Photo credit: Indoor Recess The Balconies have been one of Ottawa's premier live bands since they hit the scene a decade ago. In a career that spanned radio hits, winning the Live 88.5 Big Money Shot, and their two LPs Fast Motions and Rhonda, the band was always out to

Rocking for Rogers House

 Do you like music? Of course you do. How about music for a great cause? From Friday June 3rd to Sunday June 5th, the charming La Piazza restaurant is putting on its 7th annual, 3-day rock concert as part of Manotick’s Dickinson Days Festival. The event comes about every year

Belle Starr Packs Its Fiddles for Ottawa

 In the 1800s, Belle Starr was the name of a notorious American outlaw. Today the title has also come to represent a Canadian female trio, who similar to the rebel, defy categories. The band, consisting of Miranda Mulholland, Kendel Carson and Stephanie Cadman, hit the road this February on a

Blue Rodeo – Canada’s Band

 Photo By Dustin Rabin Canada’s Band is the only way I can describe Blue Rodeo. Since 1987, Blue Rodeo has been a fan favourite on the Ottawa (and Canadian) music scene.  They are as symbolic and important to Canada as the beaver, the maple leaf, poutine, the toque, hockey and

Lloyd Frost Provides Social Commentary with a Groove

 Photo courtesy of Ben Dionne © Blue Plazuela Music. Lloyd Frost has many tales to tell. Frost is a Montreal-born singer/songwriter and musician who lives and plays his songs in Ottawa. Lloyd has recently released The Sun Is Rising and Other True Stories, an 11 track album. People have told Frost that it

Dear Rouge, From Ottawa

 Falling leaves are not the only noteworthy shade of red in the city this week. Vancouver-based electronic rock band Dear Rouge will be showing its colours downtown with a performance at Mavericks on October 29. Dear Rouge is led by husband and wife duo Drew and Danielle McTaggart. The name

Get Starstruck with Kodaline

 Vincent May (drums), Jason Boland (bass guitar), Steve Garrigan (lead vocalist), Mark Prendergrast (lead guitar). Photo courtesy of Ben Johnson. Kodaline has made a splash in the indie rock scene. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, the group has performed together since 2005 (as 21 Demands). In 2011, Jason Boland joined and Kodaline was

Blue Rodeo Slams Harper In New Protest Song

 It’s been merely a month, but yet another anti-conservative diddy has gone viral. Following the controversial suspension of federal government scientist Tony Turner, Superstar country-rock group Blue Rodeo are the newest band of Canadians protesting the Conservative party with their new hit, “Stealin’ All My Dreams.” In a recent trend,

CityFolk Impressions

 ABOVE: Ewan Currie from The Sheepdogs plays at CityFolk. (Photo by Michael Wing)  This year’s CityFolk festival swept into the new venue at Lansdowne Park on the perfect weekend. It was warm and sunny most days, with as little rain as anyone could have hoped for. The festival line up

James Leclaire: The Sing-a-Long Sounds of Storytelling and Sorrow

 Album cover by Brett Clarke. James Leclaire’s fourth album, These Weights, combines the soulful storytelling of folk and country music with the anthemic energy of punk, to create a sound he calls ‘dirt country.’ “There is a country twang to it but it’s got an edginess that is a little

The Journey of ‘Five Crooked Lines’

 Finger Eleven has made a bold return to the Canadian music scene with the release of their sixth studio album, Five Crooked Lines. For the new record’s launch, the band has lined up a full summer tour across North America which includes a stop in Ottawa on August 13. Five Crooked

An Old Guitar and an Ottawa Bar

 Union Duke’s soaring vocal harmonies and throbbing beats have enlivened hearts and dance floors across the nation. The quintet is sure to have Ottawa concertgoers heel-stomping and hip-swaying with their performance at the Black Sheep Inn on July 31. Balancing a mixture of soulful indie rock, bluegrass and country, the

The Brothers at Bluesfest

 Roots-rockers, The Bros. Landreth will be showcasing their unique “Canadiana” style at Ottawa’s Bluesfest this Sunday. With wailing electric guitars, thundering organs and naturally harmonious vocals, at first listen The Bros. Landreth may sound like they hail from the American south, and not from the isolated prairies of Manitoba. “Down

Steven Wilson Brings Psychedelic Soundscapes to Gatineau

 A night of eclectic and engaging rock guitar awaits you this summer at the Theatre du Casino Lac-Leamy. Prolific guitarist, keyboardist and composer Steven Wilson will be performing in Gatineau on June 30. It will be Wilson’s first time performing in Gatineau and will no doubt be a night to

Folk Rock Hits the Road to Ottawa

 Shining headlights across the country, Vancouver-based folk rock band The River and The Road are touring Canada in support of their new album. They will be stopping in Ottawa on Thursday, May 14, for a performance at Cafe Dekcuf. The band started off as a busking duo, consisting of singer

Ontario’s Newest Folk Star

 Fiddler, singer, and step dancer April Verch is emerging into Ontario’s music spotlight! Recognized for her blissful voice, lively dancing and striking performances, her upcoming appearance at the National Arts Centre (NAC) is not one to miss! With impressive reviews coming from newspapers like the Huffington Post and Toronto Star, there

Tie Up Your Dancing Shoes and Get Ready for Sea Perry

 Get ready to put on your dancing shoes for the single Molly’s Shoes by Canadian folk-rock band Sea Perry. The catchy and upbeat song dropped at the beginning of April from the band’s debut full-length album, Do What You Do, set to be released April 21. If this first single

Experiencing Wonderkind

 Learn what it means to feel “wonderkind” with the cross-Canada tour of Language Arts this spring. Toronto’s unique alternative jazz-pop band has been together for ten years, although it has been a rotating door in terms of members. Currently the band consists of classically trained Kristen Cudmore, drummer Neil MacIntosh, keyboardist Joel

Unleashing Folk ’n’ Roll 

 Cloudless, blue skies are drawing nearer for the Toronto band Sun K with the release of their debut album on March 10. The eight-track collection titled Northern Lies, brings together a combination of folk and rock genres creating a fresh and catchy sound. “We like to call it folk ’n’

The Strumbellas on music, tour life and making it big

 Photo credit: Heather Pollock “I know I’m supposed to say my favourite part of being on tour is meeting the fans,” says the Strumbellas frontman Simon Ward. “But really it’s trying all the different food from everywhere we travel.” If I wasn’t a fan of the Strumbellas before, you can bet

Making Music Magic: James Leclaire

 Today marks the opening day of RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest! OLM is ready to groove—and so is James Leclaire! Leclaire and The Cable 22’s hit the Barney Danson Theatre tonight at 6 p.m. to bring you some of Ottawa’s best musical talent. Compared to the likes of Steve Earle, Leclaire

Better Living Through Chemistry

 Flashback to the last time you actually took a chemistry class…and enjoyed it? I would say many of us are not too passionate about the kind of chemistry that exists in equations between protons, neutrons and electrons. But let me tell you the band: Better Living Through Chemistry is a

Danielle Duval’s OF THE VALLEY

 Danielle Duval's new album OF THE VALLEY is a solid and heartfelt collection of songs. Emotive, melodic and honest, all at the same time. All pulled together with a strong pop sensibility. Duval's voice has a unique, friendly and inviting feel, providing a contrast to some of the blander, radio-friendly,